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Celebrate the holidays in style with a drink that’s as festive as it is refreshing. The Santa’s hat coconut rum cocktail brings together tropical coconut flavors with tart cranberry and just a hint of citrus for a perfectly balanced sip. Its vibrant red hue, snowy coconut rim, and cherry garnish make it look just like Santa’s hat, turning an ordinary evening into something magical. This is the kind of cocktail that instantly puts you in the ho ho ho-liday spirit!
The Santa’s hat coconut rum cocktail combines coconut, cranberry, and citrus flavors for a festive drink that looks as good as it tastes.
Also try zuccotto cake, antipasto Christmas trees, spiced holiday punch, Christmas coffee and this yummy smoked turkey breast.
Why You’ll Love It
Festive appearance: The snowy coconut rim and bright red color make it perfect for the holidays.
Balanced flavor: Sweet coconut, tart cranberry and citrus create harmony in every sip.
Easy prep: Just shake, rim and pour, no special tools required.
Crowd pleaser: Both visually stunning and delicious, it’s sure to impress guests.
Santa’s Hat Coconut Rum Cocktail Ingredients
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Cream of coconut: Sticky and sweet for a perfect coconut rim.
Sweetened flaked coconut: Clings to the rim for a snowy edge.
Maraschino cherries: Optional but delicious (and colorful).
Ice: Chills this red Christmas cocktail perfectly.
Cranberry juice cocktail: Adds bright color and fruity tartness.
Coconut rum: Tropical sweetness with a smooth finish.
Sweet and sour mix: Citrus tang that balances the sweetness.
Grenadine: Deeper red hue with a light pomegranate note.
Lemon juice: Fresh lift that sharpens the finish.
How to Make Santa’s Hat Cocktails
For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.
Rim the glass: Dip the martini rim in cream of coconut, then press into flaked coconut.
Set the base: Drop two cherries into the bottom of the glass.
Load the shaker: Add ice, cranberry juice, coconut rum, sweet and sour, grenadine and lemon juice.
Shake and strain: Shake until frosty, then strain into the prepared glass.
Substitutions and Variations
Make it gluten free: Use a gluten free certified rum and a gluten free sweet and sour mix.
Dial down sweetness: Swap cranberry cocktail for unsweetened cranberry plus a touch of simple syrup.
Citrus twist: Try lime juice instead of lemon for a zesty edge.
Tropical bump: Add a small splash of pineapple juice for extra fruit notes.
Serving Suggestions
Appetizers: Begin your Christmas meal with Christmas deviled eggs or tomato burrata bites.
Main course: Serve smoked honey glazed ham with crispy stacked potatoes and roasted acorn squash.
Dessert: Finish with Italian chocolate salami and a Santa’s hat cocktail.
How to Store Santa’s Hat Cocktails
Store: Keep leftovers refrigerated in a sealed container and enjoy within 3 days.
Freeze: I don’t recommend freezing these cocktails.
Top Tips
Chill the glass: A frosty glass keeps the texture crisp and the rim set.
Dry the rim: Pat the outside of the glass before rimming so coconut sticks only on top.
Use fresh citrus: Bottled mixes are fine, but fresh lemon tastes brighter.
Hard shake: Shake with conviction for proper dilution and a silky finish.
Festive Red Christmas Cocktail FAQs
Yes, you can make these Christmas cocktails in advance if you want. The mixture will be fine for up to 3 days. Don’t add the ice until just before shaking and serving. Keep refrigerated until serving.
Martini glasses are ideal for cranberry Christmas cocktail recipes, but you can use another type if you prefer, such as lowball glasses. At a pinch those would work but you’d be losing the Santa’s hat shape, so it’s best to grab some martini glasses if you’re planning to make this fun Christmas cocktail. Choose from traditional martini glasses or stem-free ones.
Santa’s Hat Coconut Rum Cocktail Recipe
Santa’s Hat Coconut Rum Cocktail
Ingredients
- 1 Teaspoon cream of coconut, I used Coco Reàl Cream of Coconut
- 1 Tablespoon sweetened flaked coconut, I used Baker’s Angel Flake Sweetened Coconut
- 3 Ounces cranberry juice cocktail, such as Ocean Spray Cranberry Juice Cocktail
- 3 Ounces Malibu, or similar coconut rum
- 1 ½ Ounces sweet and sour mix, such as Zing Zang Sweet and Sour Mix
- ½ Ounce grenadine, I used Rose’s Grenadine
- ⅛ lemon, juiced
- ice
Optional Garnish
Instructions
- Dip the rim of an 8-ounce martini glass into the cream of coconut, rotating until the entire rim is coated. Press the coated rim into flaked coconut and rotate, again, until covered.
- Add 2 maraschino cherries to the bottom of the glass, if liked.
- Fill a cocktail shaker about halfway with ice. Add cranberry juice, coconut rum, sweet and sour mix, grenadine, and lemon juice. Shake to combine until the shaker feels ice cold (10 to 20 seconds).
- Pour over maraschino cherries into rimmed martini glass.
Notes
Dry the rim: Pat the outside of the glass before rimming so coconut sticks only on top.
Use fresh citrus: Bottled mixes are fine, but fresh lemon tastes brighter.
Hard shake: Shake with conviction for proper dilution and a silky finish.
Nutrition
Bring a little sparkle to your next gathering with the Santa’s hat coconut rum cocktail. The lush coconut, lively cranberry and fresh citrus balance into a sip that feels festive without trying too hard. The snowy rim and cherry pom poms seal the look, so the glass tells the story before the first taste. Shake these Christmas rum drinks, toast the season and enjoy the color and the cheer in every sip.
Other Recipes to Try
Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
We made this last night for our Christmas party. We all really loved it and it has made this list of annual holiday party drinks. Yum!
I am going to be making this one for my party!